6816580
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16580
The Army purchased this helicopter 1269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000131
Date: 03/25/70
Unit: A/158 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO THEATER
for Air/land Assault , Hot Area.
While in PickUp Zone this helicopter was on the Ground at 0000 feet and 000 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges.
(RPG)
The helicopter was hit in the Left Side
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS, STRUCTURE, TAIL ROTOR
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Aircraft is later recovered by any means other than
its own power.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16580
The Army purchased this helicopter 1269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000173
Date: 04/15/70
Accident case number: 700415221
Unit: A/158 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Evans in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 94380
Crew Members:
P W1 KERN L
IP W1 SHEETS EF
Accident Summary:
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE CONDUCT OF A TRAINING FLIGHT. THE IP WAS GIVING AN INITIAL IN-COUNTRY CHECK RIDE TO A NEWLY ASSIGNED AVIATOR. THE INITIAL PART OF THE CHECK RIDE CONSISTED OF A NORMAL APPROACH, STEEP APPROACH NORMAL TAKE OFF AND A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKE OFF. THE IP THEN CHOSE TO BEGIN THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. WITH THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT, A TAKE OFF WAS MADE FROM EVAN'S RUNWAY. THE IP HAD THE PILOT EXTEND THE TAKE OFF LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PERMIT THE PILOT TIME TO GET THE FEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE HYDRAULICS OFF. UPON TURNING DOWNWIND AT APPROXIMATELY 400 TO 500 FEET, THE IP INSTRUCTED THE PILOT IN THE PROPER METHOD OF TURNING OFF THE HYDRAULICS TO PREVENT A HARD COVER. AT THIS TIME THE IP TURNED OFF THE HYDRAULICS, BUT KEPT HIS HAND ON THE SWITH UNITL THE PILOT DETERMINED THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS. APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO REDUCE THE COLLECTIVE, BUT COULD NOT GET IT ALL WAY DOWN. THE IP IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE HYDRAULICS BACK ON AND TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. AT THIS TIME THE ROTOR RPM WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 280 RPM. WHEN THE HYDRAULICS PRESSURE WAS RESTORED THE IP COMPLETELY BOTTOMED THE COLLECTIVE AND INCREASED THE AIRSPEED. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER A GROUP OF BUILDINGS. ON THE LEFT WAS ANOTHER BUILT UP AREA. ON THE RIGHT WAS A LARGE OPEN AREA THAT HAD BEEN FRESHLY GRADED. THE IP ELECTED TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO A FIELD THAT WAS COVERED WITH GRASS AND SHRUB BRUSH. HE REALIZED HE WOULD BE LANDING DOWNWIND. HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA WAS COVERED WITH GRASS AND APPEARED TO BE FLAT TERRAIN. AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET THE IP INITIATED A FLARE, WHICH HAD LITTLE EFFECT DUE TO THE TAIL WIND. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE FORWARD SLOPE OF THE HILL WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS FORWARD AIRSPEED. BY THE TIME GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE, ALL OF THE USABLE PITCH HAD BEEN USED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND HARD WITH THE HEELS OF THE SKIDS, ROCKED FORWARD INTO A HOLE, APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET DEEP, TWELVE FEET WIDE AND TWELVE FEET LONG. AS THE AIRCRAFT ROCKED FORWARD INTO THE HOLE THE NOSE CONE WAS DAMAGED BY STRIKING THE FRONT LIP OF THE HOLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT ROCKED TO THE REAR DAMAGING THE RIGHT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM ON THE LEFT SIDE; HOWEVER IT DID NOT SEVER THE TAIL BOOM.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16580
Date: 08/11/72
South Vietnam
Loss to Inventory
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16580
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended
to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 1269.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6912 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7001 0 0 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7002 23 23 WFJ4A0 A-158 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7003 108 131 WFJ4A0 A-158 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7004 42 173 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7005 0 173 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7006 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7007 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7008 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7009 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7010 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7011 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7012 0 173 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7101 0 173 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7102 0 173 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7103 5 178 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7104 100 278 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7105 101 379 WC3EAA 48 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 16 395 WC3EAA 48 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 41 436 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 60 496 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 91 587 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7110 68 655 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7111 0 655 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7112 0 655 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870